The super abundance of Rhododendrons is the glory of the Singalila Range. It is a southward extension of Khangchendzonga to the plains of West Bengal which forms the political boundary between India and Nepal. Singalila National Park, at an altitude of more than 7000 feet above sea level, is located on the Singalila Range. The park is known for housing the red panda, which was reintroduced successfully from Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling in 2004. The park is also home to the flying squirrel, leopard cat, yellow-throated marten, clouded leopard and taking.

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The name Sandakphu means the ‘Height of the Poison Plant’, referring to the the poisonous aconite plants that grow in abundance near the peak. The trek to this peak is well known as the “Sandakhphu Trek” and it ranges from 6400 ft (2000 m) to 11811 ft (3600 m), which runs through the Singalila National Park. The trek starts from a small settlement called Manebhanjan and can be covered in 2 to 3 days.

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Sandakphu is also home to a wide variety of flora consisting of over hundred year old Magnolias and Rhododendron trees with their brilliant floral display in different shades during April and May. Being the natural habitat for rare medicinal plants along with other sub-alpine flowers, it has the largest variety of orchids to be found in a single geographical area and attracts a large number of naturalists. Some of the rare medicinal plants that fetch high prices in international market are chirata (Swertia chirayita), monkshood (Aconitum napellus), jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi) and kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa).

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The trekking trail and the crude jeep track to Sandakphu passes through thick Magnolia and Rhododendron forest. The reliable four-wheel- drive vehicles which ply on these tracks dates back to World War II. If you do not mind a bumpy ride, then it is an experience to be sitting in one of these vintage Land Rovers while negotiating steep hairpin bends and climbing the steep rough terrain with outstanding ease.

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The magnificent panoramic view of whole western to eastern Himalayan range is truly a rewarding sight once you reach Sandakphu. It is about the only place in India from where you can take a reasonably good peek at the world’s highest mountain Everest 29,028 ft (8846 m) along with three other worlds highest peaks – Kanchanjunga, Makalu and Lhotse, in a continuous snow-clad arc. Definitely a trekkers paradise.

One of the smallest states in India, Sikkim offers a great variety of plant and wildlife besides a diverse ethnic mix of people with rich cultural tradition. Situated in the eastern Himalayas, it is spread below the Mount Khanchendzonga 27,803 ft (8,585 mts), the third highest mountain in the world, and respected by the Sikkimese as their protective deity.

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To really see this Himalayan state, it is necessary to leave the urban settlements and travel to the remote areas. One of such places is the Yumthang Valley in North Sikkim, 150km from its capital Gangtok. The valley shares its southern periphery with Singba Rhodendron Sanctuary, a conservation effort in their natural habitat for it is the Rhododendrons of Sikkim-Himalaya that has brought this region to botanical and eco tourism limelight ever since Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker’s Sikkim visit around 1849 when he categorized over 30 species then unknown to science.

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Lachung a small hamlet at an elevation of about 9,600 ft (3,000 m) provides the base for exploring Yumthang, the valley of flowers which is situated at an altitude of 11,800 ft (3,564 m). It is a paradise for nature lovers and botanists with a fascinating blend of flora and fauna and picturesque landscape. With hidden valleys and alpine meadows where one can hike to, the area is potentially abundant with amazing plants such as the himalayan mandrake, asarum, meconopsis, liliums, reiums, primulas, arisaema and orchids of different varieties, to name a few.

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Situated further up at a distance of 16 Kms, at an altitude of about 16,000 feet (4,870 m), is Yamesamdong, the rugged vegetation free mountain where one can stop for a hot water spring bath just below the snow clad peak. The best season for visiting the valley starts in late February and continues up to mid June, when thousands of colourful flowers are in full bloom. However, to enjoy a clear sky and brilliant view of snow-capped mountains, September – December would be the best.